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dermkat 's review for:

Stealing Sunshine by Hannah Cowan

I really enjoyed this one! It's sapphic (lesbian MC and bi MC), and it's fake dating with the version of forced proximity that is my fave: when they don't really have to stay together but do anyways so they've sort of brough it on themselves. Bryce is the town 'ice queen' and is known for her prickly demeanor unless you're one of the few she's let in, something that stems from not being loved properly by her rich, snooty parents who look down on her for her tattoos, general vibe, and sexuality (even if they've never said that last one out loud, actions make it clear). When Johnny's twin Daisy moves back to town to start teaching at the elementary school, she needs a place to stay temporarily and the friend group volunteers Bryce's spare room. Which would be fine, except Bryce has been secretly enamoured with Daisy for a few years, and that only gets worse when Daisy suggests they fake date to get Bryce's parents to stop fixing her up with men. The women grow closer, there's a very sweet caretaking situation when one is ill, and tattoos are a love language. I'm glad this one finally let us know Darren more since Bryce is best friends with him too, and set up his book as it's the final in the series, coming out later this year. This one is a close second to book two, which is my other fave of the series so far, but rather than its firey, fast paced vibe, this one is a little slower and gentler as both women learn to let the other in and sink into being entirely themselves.